Chapter 21 I knew it

"It is an honor to have invited all of you teachers, and I am very grateful for your strong support of the Municipal Cultural Relics Exchange Center and the Municipal Folk Museum..."

The female leader spoke eloquently, while Lin Sicheng was multitasking: So, inviting so many experts was just a way to solicit donations?

Basically, during the National Day holiday, the Xijing Folk Museum planned to take advantage of the peak tourist season to organize an exhibition related to the folk culture of Xijing City.

However, cultural forms such as Qinqiang opera, paper-cutting, waist drum, and shadow puppetry are promoted every year, and there are multiple such forms, leading to public fatigue.

Therefore, Director Lan came up with a novel idea: to organize a unique cultural and museum exhibition at the Folk Museum, themed "Shaanxi Tea Culture" and based at the Cultural Relics Exchange Center, using a "half-exhibition, half-appreciation" format.

Since it's a cultural exhibition, exhibits are essential. However, the folk museum's collection is far from sufficient. During the National Day holiday, various museums will have similar exhibitions, and temporary borrowing is impossible. So, Director Lan set her sights on these experts.

First, there's the authentication and quality control: the exchange center plans a intensive collection effort within a month to gather as many artifacts as possible that incorporate "tea culture" elements. However, due to the limited time, there's an inevitable risk of substandard or counterfeit items being passed off as genuine. To avoid making a fool of themselves at the exhibition, they must rely on the discerning eyes of these experts.

One option is to borrow exhibits from experts: these are all well-known collectors in the city, and who doesn't have a few presentable tea wares? If we can't collect enough, we'll have to borrow some.

Secondly, they serve as commentators and appraisal guests. You can imagine how enthusiastic the scene would be if top experts offered free appraisals.

Hearing this, Lin Sicheng finally understood why Director Lan called his grandfather every day.

Who is this old man? He is a well-known ceramics research expert, collector, and appraisal expert in this city.

I wouldn't dare say he's number one, but among these three "experts," he's undoubtedly in the top three. Whether it's collecting and appraising exhibits, borrowing them, or conducting on-site appraisals, no one is more comprehensive or suitable than him.

Unfortunately, he ended up in the hospital.

Just as I was thinking this happily, a burst of enthusiastic applause suddenly erupted in the conference room.

Lin Sicheng also clapped.

After Director Lan finished speaking, two more deputy leaders followed. The whole process took an hour and a half, and Lin Sicheng almost fell asleep.

Then, the center's leaders invited experts to the exhibition hall to appreciate the recently collected exhibits.

A large group of people walked out, with Lin Sicheng still following at the very back.

Just as I stepped out the door, I heard laughter: "Junior Brother Lin~"

Hearing the address, Lin Sicheng knew it was Hao Jun and quickly turned around: "Senior Brother Hao, what a coincidence!"

Hao Jun nodded with a smile: "It is indeed quite a coincidence."

No, what a coincidence! What kind of look is that?

And that tone of voice, why is it so sarcastic?

Hao Jun, unusually friendly, patted Lin Sicheng on the shoulder: "I asked you to come and sign for the money, and you've been dragging it out for a week. Don't you want the money anymore?"

He was referring to the final payment for the Buddha statue, which was over 200,000 yuan. How could he possibly refuse it?

Lin Sicheng sighed, "I'm sorry, senior brother, my grandfather is in the hospital, and I really haven't been able to take care of him!"

"I was just kidding. Of course, business is more important!"

Hao Jun lowered his voice, a hint of admiration in his eyes, "I've heard about what happened. You're something else. If it weren't for you, you would have made an international news story!"

Lin Sicheng was startled: the case was still under investigation and the news was still being blocked, how did he know?

But then he felt relieved: Rongbaozhai branch manager, Peking University Resources Institute of Cultural Relics Appraisal professor in Xijing... whatever the identity, it meant having a wide circle of friends and being well-informed.

Nine times out of ten, the police had asked him to find out the suspect's identity.

Lin Sicheng modestly replied, "It's not as exaggerated as my senior brother said!"

Hao Jun: "Hehe!"

Is that an exaggeration? Not at all!

He knew all too well how much trouble Bai Hong had gone through to get that Buddha statue.

Therefore, even if Lin Changqing did not sign, the cultural relics company would still buy that reverse-flow pot.

When the time comes, we'll see: Wow, it fills a gap in the province and represents the highest level of craftsmanship in Yaozhou kiln... If we don't publicize such achievements, what else should we publicize?

There will inevitably be leaders coming to observe; at least half of the provincial leaders will come, and all of the city leaders will definitely come.

And who knows, they might even pretend to touch it.

After that, the focus is on publicity and public exhibitions, allowing tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, or even tens of millions of tourists to visit.

But then one day they suddenly discovered that this thing was actually a radioactive source... Haha, this is more than just international news.

It's no exaggeration to say that foreign media outlets would be laughing their heads off when they found out... The scene is too beautiful for Hao Jun to even imagine.

Therefore, he didn't need to guess how scared and relieved the provincial and municipal leaders in charge of cultural heritage and publicity were these past two days.

Then, she felt even more grateful to Lin Sicheng.

That's why he was jealous, wondering how this kid could be so lucky.

Hao Jun rolled his eyes again and nudged Lin Sicheng: "Where did you learn that!"

Lin Sicheng pretended not to understand: "What?"

"What else could it be? Uranium!"

"Oh, I accidentally flipped through a few magazines!"

"What magazine? Where did you find it?"

"I've long forgotten!"

What nonsense are you spouting, kid?

What magazine could I possibly not find?

The key point is that neither carbon-14 dating misleading technology nor interference thermoluminescence dating technology has been widely adopted abroad, nor has it been researched in China.

So, let alone magazines, there wasn't even a single related report.

Knowing he didn't want to talk about it, Hao Jun chuckled again.

The two whispered to each other and lagged behind when they entered the exhibition hall, where the other experts had already begun their look.

Five or six of them were gathered around a long platform, as if they had encountered something new and interesting.

Hao Jun whispered to him, "That's the vice president of the Provincial Folk Art Association. He retired from the provincial museum and has a good relationship with your grandfather."

"And that other one, the deputy director of the Municipal Bureau's Forensic Center, also has a good relationship with your grandfather."

"Forensic center, they work for the police?"

"What do you think!"

After replying, Hao Jun pointed again: "The man next to him, Chairman Ding of the Municipal Calligraphy and Painting Collection Association, the vice chairman... doesn't get along with your grandfather!"

Why?

"Professor Lin once found a bargain through him, buying a calligraphy copybook by Yu Youren at an extremely low price!"

Who is Yu Youren, the master of cursive script during the Republic of China era?

Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment: My goodness, you're amazing!

To be appointed president of a calligraphy and painting association, one must be an expert among experts. But for my grandfather, a ceramics researcher, to pick up a worthless calligraphy copybook from a calligraphy and painting expert is practically slapping him in the face.

Therefore, this is more than just being at odds; it's a blood feud...

He immediately shook his head: "Then I won't go!"

"Professor Lin is such a distinguished figure, can't you be a little more dignified?" Hao Jun said, squinting. "Besides, you have good relationships with everyone else, and he's your only enemy. What are you afraid of? Besides, I'm here for you..."

hehe?

That fatso always loves to stir up trouble.

It's quite strange, his sudden closeness seems to come out of nowhere.

Just as he was wondering, Hao Jun gave him a push, and the two walked toward the long table.

Hao Jun introduced them one by one, and Lin Sicheng greeted them one by one. The experts nodded happily.

When it was Chairman Ding's turn, he didn't even glance at Lin Sicheng, completely ignoring him.

He wasn't deaf; Hao Jun explained it clearly: this was Lin Changqing's grandson, a senior in the Department of Cultural Heritage at Xida University, and he had even surpassed his father.

Is that even a damn boast?

Lin Sicheng didn't mind and followed behind Hao Jun, peeking out.

Several people were gathered around a square bamboo basket, about half a meter in diameter and sixty centimeters deep. It was quite dirty, probably having been neglected for many years. Occasionally, in exposed areas, one could see the crisscrossing, gleaming bamboo strips.

The basket was full of things: there were square wooden boxes with inscriptions, gourd ladles carved with flowers, small bowls printed with flowers, and peach wood clips covered with silver foil.

There was another one, which looked like a modern egg beater, but was made of bamboo strips and was already a tattered object.

The Twenty-Four Treasures of the Tang Dynasty?

It's obviously a copy, but it's quite a coincidence.

There are very few tea utensils other than porcelain, and most of the items in this basket are bamboo and wooden, which fall into the category of miscellaneous items.

Coincidentally, among the few experts in miscellaneous fields present, Hao Jun was the most prominent and well-known.

However, he remained silent, letting Chairman Ding point and gesticulate wildly, spitting as he spoke.

"The patina is too shallow, and the strips are too new; it's clearly a contemporary item."

"The workmanship is so-so, and the lettering is also very poorly carved."

"The poems are even more half-literary and half-comprehensible, and it's obvious at a glance that the author has little education."

"How did they manage to acquire something like this?"

The others weren't as sharp as him, but they all agreed that the thing was worthless.

After a few words of discussion, someone invited Hao Jun: "Secretary-General Hao, you're an expert in miscellaneous items, could you take a look?"

Hao Jun nodded, rolled up his sleeves, and commented as he looked at the pieces: "Although they are all handmade works of art, they are not very old, at most thirty or forty years old. The concept is quite good, but they are too hasty and impatient."

He paused for a moment, then thought for a second: "It's like it was rushed out?"

Lin Sicheng secretly praised: Senior Brother Hao's eyesight is quite impressive; this set of things was indeed rushed out.

One of them pointed to the two lines of poetry on the box and asked, "Secretary-General Hao, does this poem have any origin?"

Hao Junzai read it carefully once:

West Lake Longjing tea is renowned as a treasure, its exquisite preparation technique is truly divine.

The tender green shoots are sweet and refreshing, their delicate aroma and delicious taste attracting visitors.

"I'm sorry, I don't know much about poetry and calligraphy, so I'm definitely not as good as Chairman Ding."

After a slight pause, Hao Jun rolled his eyes and beckoned to Lin Sicheng: "Come here, you take a look!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Chairman Ding chuckled and said, "Secretary-General Hao, don't joke around. You're young and inexperienced; you can't trust someone to do things properly. What kind of advice do you have for him?"

Hao Jun's eyes lit up instantly. "President Ding, don't say that! It wouldn't be good if Professor Lin found out!"

"What's wrong with that? I said the same thing to Lao Lin's face: we absolutely have to earn that eight hundred yuan."

Lin Sicheng sighed.

Where did the eight hundred dollars come from?

It's an old tradition of the relevant departments that some activities require inviting experts, and as long as they come, they receive a red envelope, commonly known as a "travel allowance."

Although the old man didn't come, Lin Sicheng represented the meeting, and the relevant departments wouldn't be so short-sighted, so he will definitely get a red envelope in the end.

So, what Chairman Ding meant was: Lin Changqing is desperate for money.

The enemy is nowhere to be found.

But what's wrong with this fat guy? Why is he constantly stirring things up?

Thinking to himself, Hao Jun nudged him again: "Are you sure you can do it? Anyway, your grandpa definitely can..."

Lin Sicheng cursed under his breath, then exhaled, "Zhuang Wanfang!"

Hao Jun was taken aback: "What Fang?"

"Zhuang Wanfang, the contemporary tea sage!"

Suddenly, the fat man's eyes lit up: I knew it!